Had you told any citizen of New York Islander Country a few weeks ago that their favorite team had a chance to make the playoffs, you'd have gotten a horse laugh louder than anything heard at stable in Belmont Park.
Had you told any citizen of New York Islander Country a few weeks ago that their favorite team had a chance to make the playoffs, you'd have gotten a horse laugh louder than anything heard at stable in Belmont Park.
"Out of the question!" would have been the collective response for the pure and simple reason that the Islanders -- for all intents and purposes -- were out of the race.
Enter Patrick Roy promising nothing more than to do his best -- like they do at the LIRR Jamaica Station -- to put this team back on the right track.
As we all know, there were plenty of local stops -- like Woodside and Kew Gardens -- along the way but as of Monday morning the Isles are back into playoff contention for the first time since January 13.
The Maven will explain how it happened:
1. It took many painful weeks and crushing losses like that horrific night game at MetLife Stadium but Roy got a grip on what he had, and what to do with it to get a streak going.
2. He knew he had to ride -- for better or worse -- his thoroughbred, Ilya Sorokin, in goal and everyone's comrade obliged with wins.
3. When the streak reached five wins, the coach had to gamble on possibly rusty Semyon Varlamov and the vet delivered last night In Anaheim.
4. Roy's masterful line change -- putting Brock Nelson on the first unit with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal -- has, so far, worked to perfection.
5. The return of Kyle MacLean enabled Roy to insert assistant coach John MacLean's kid on the fourth line; and that was pivotal. Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin have been energized by the move.
6. That switch enabled the coach to promote Casey Cizikas to the third line with Pierre Engvall and Simon Holmstrom. It has proven to be an effective trio. The oft-maligned Engvall scored on a nifty breakaway last night while Casey also was a lamplighter.
7. Kyle Palmieri has turned hot on the second unit with Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
8. Defense finally has shaped up as an asset. Roy broke up the Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock duet putting Noah Dobson with Pellech and Alex Romanov. That left Lou's super-get, Mike Reilly, with Sebastian Aho, and the latter pair have fared well.
That's the good news. The reality news is provided by the veteran Varly:"I'm sure it'll be a battle to the end with the tight standings. We know where we are and we know we have to stay focused on ourselves and keep winning."
The Isles will have an opportunity to make it a lucky seven in a row tonight against the Kings at Crypto.com. Arena.
As for The Maven, I'm still shaking my head in disbelief!